Olympia — The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) recently created a resource guide to help parents and caregivers navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

DCYF recognizes the challenges parents and caregivers are experiencing during this unprecedented time. Many parents and caregivers have the responsibility of balancing their work schedules in the face of school closures and limited child care availability, or job loss.

DCYF’s Washington State Resource Guide for Parents and Caregivers: Caring for Your Family During COVID-19 is a compilation of information and resources to help bolster the incredible resiliency of parents and families. This work was done in recognition of the increased demands for parents during this time.

“The resources in this guide are intended to help parents, caregivers and their families understand, manage and respond to the stress and uncertainty of an infectious disease outbreak,” said Judy King, Director of Family Support Programs for DCYF. “These are unique circumstances for families in Washington and around the world. We are working to ensure parents in our state have the resources they need to be successful and strong during this time.”

This resource guide is organized in the widely used and accepted Protective Factors framework that outlines five areas of focus for parent, child and family well-being. It was inspired by the voices, stories and strengths of families and communities in Washington and Prevent Child Abuse partners across the country.

DCYF is committed to fulfilling its mission to protect children and strengthen families so they flourish. For the latest information and guidance, the public is urged to visit DCYF’s COVID-19 website. 

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